Selling a Business in Audrain County

Audrain County has 470 employer businesses, and 88% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here. The largest industries here are retail and repair, personal care and other services.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Audrain County by the numbers

470

470

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,615

1,615

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

6,259

6,259

EMPLOYMENT

$312 million

$312 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

215

215

BUSINESSES WITH 5 TO 49 EMPLOYEES

U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2024. Counts are employer establishments, meaning business locations with paid employees.

How Audrain County compares

  • Audrain County ranks 49th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 11.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Audrain County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 215 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Audrain County ranks 49th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 11.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Audrain County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 215 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 86 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 62 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 53 employer businesses

  • Construction: 52 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 37 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 86 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 62 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 53 employer businesses

  • Construction: 52 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 37 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Audrain County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance, construction

Every kind of business we sell in Audrain County

These are the industries in Audrain County and the number of employer businesses in each. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Construction & Engineering

36 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • General Contracting: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

36 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Retail Stores

28 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Restaurants & Food

24 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Logistics & Transportation

11 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Manufacturing

10 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Wholesale & Distribution

8 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

These are the industries in Audrain County and the number of employer businesses in each. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Construction & Engineering

36 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • General Contracting: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

36 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Retail Stores

28 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Restaurants & Food

24 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Logistics & Transportation

11 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Manufacturing

10 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Wholesale & Distribution

8 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Audrain County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Audrain County

Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Audrain County. Contact us to talk about a sale.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Audrain County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Audrain County?

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in Audrain County?

Valuation starts with the earnings the business produces for an owner, then adjusts for assets, size, industry and the terms a buyer is likely to accept. The result is a range, and the asking price is set inside it.

Is the sale confidential?

Buyers are asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they see the name of the business or its financial statements.

FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in Audrain County

October 3, 2025

Business Owners

Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On

Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.

Read article

October 3, 2025

Business Owners

Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On

Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.

Read article

March 5, 2026

Business Owners

Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close

Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.

Read article

March 5, 2026

Business Owners

Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close

Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.

Read article

February 9, 2026

Business Owners

The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why

The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.

Read article

February 9, 2026

Business Owners

The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why

The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.

Read article